I’m starting to discover a new Truth in my life: I am not the Center.
Yes, I know I’m a little slow on the learning continuum, but I think that Luke is teaching me this on a gut-level. I may have known this in my head for many years but I’m starting to know this in my body and in my heart.
My life has always been all about me: which colleges I wanted to attend, which missions programs I wanted to be a part of, which countries I wanted to travel to…etc.
I’m not saying this is bad – it was important for my own development as a young chicky, however it did revolve all around me. Let’s just say this philosophy of living doesn’t work when you are a parent—nevermind just parenting--to be in healthy community it can’t be all about me!!
The past month when I have become frustrated with Luke and start feeling sorry for myself, this mantra keeps coming to mind:
I am not the Center. I am not the Center. I am not the Center.
Somehow it gets my mind off of “poor me” and enables me to parent him out of a space that is “others-focused”…this statement actually gives me energy to love him…strange yet wonderful when you are sleep-deprived.
I challenge you to try it next time things don’t go your way. It’s actually quite freeing to learn that your life is not all about you.
Next up, practicing this mantra in my marriage…hmmm…
Yes, I know I’m a little slow on the learning continuum, but I think that Luke is teaching me this on a gut-level. I may have known this in my head for many years but I’m starting to know this in my body and in my heart.
My life has always been all about me: which colleges I wanted to attend, which missions programs I wanted to be a part of, which countries I wanted to travel to…etc.
I’m not saying this is bad – it was important for my own development as a young chicky, however it did revolve all around me. Let’s just say this philosophy of living doesn’t work when you are a parent—nevermind just parenting--to be in healthy community it can’t be all about me!!
The past month when I have become frustrated with Luke and start feeling sorry for myself, this mantra keeps coming to mind:
I am not the Center. I am not the Center. I am not the Center.
Somehow it gets my mind off of “poor me” and enables me to parent him out of a space that is “others-focused”…this statement actually gives me energy to love him…strange yet wonderful when you are sleep-deprived.
I challenge you to try it next time things don’t go your way. It’s actually quite freeing to learn that your life is not all about you.
Next up, practicing this mantra in my marriage…hmmm…
3 comments:
thanks for this post, annie. i might be using this mantra soon.
hi andrea! time for me to confess that i've been reading your blog since donovan shared the link with me to his (when we first became FB friends). i've been praying for you in the sleep department b/c i know how consuming that can be!
anyway, good post! so true. we often tell each other "this is just a season" when we feel frustrated about the many sacrifices that are made as a parent. but i think your mantra can certainly be applied to many circumstances!
Our wee ones have so much to teach us ... continue to be open to the lessons! There is much to learn about the Father's heart through the ups and downs of parenting!
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